As the Zulu, Rex, Argus and Covington parades rolled, rain-wary residents across the metro New Orleans area began to line the parade routes in larger numbers Uptown, in Metairie and on the West Bank and north shore.

The crowds around St. Charles and Jackson Avenues arrived later than in years past but had expanded to their near-usual Fat Tuesday girth by the time Zulu’s iconic Big Shot float rolled past.

“We’re so happy and blessed to have the weather (hold up),” Queen Zulu Monica Givens said as she toasted New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu at Gallier Hall.

On Napoleon Avenue, Randy and Henrietta Guste were typical of longtime parade-goers along the route: They downsized, but did not bail.

"We usually have a big plot but my sister decided not to do it this year because of the rain," Randy Guste said. "But we're here. If the people on floats are willing to get wet, so are we."

Lecial and Flo Carroll repelled the rain with a tent, tarp and barbecue pit. They said neither the rain nor the construction on the Napoleon Avenue neutral ground would deter them.

"If they had mud piles, people would still come,” Flo Carrol said. “It's New Orleans!"

“I like the weather better when it's overcast," Trey Carraway, 33, said. "It's cooler and there are fewer people."

In Metairie, the Argus floats rolled noticeably faster than normal in an apparent game of beat-the-weather. By 11:20 a.m., all 22 floats had made the U-turn on Severn Avenue and headed back toward Veterans Boulevard.

Many regulars agreed Mardi Gras crowds were smaller than normal but nevertheless robust given the threat of rain.

“The crowd is really good, considering the weather,” the 2013 King of Argus, businessman Ray Brandt, told WWL-TV news anchor Mike Hoss in an interview on the float shortly after the parade began. “I was worried, but this (turnout) has exceeded my expectations.”

As the Grela parade made its way down Franklin Avenue on the West Bank, the lead singer of the Conquest band shoputed to parade-goers -- in between lyrics of Al Green's "Love and Happiness" -- that "rain ain't never stopped nobody!"

On the north shore, hundreds of parade-goers arrived literally minutes before the Krewe of Covington rolled downtown. Some people said they were waiting on the weather; others said they usually arrive pretty close to parade time.

'If the people on floats are willing to get wet, so are we,' said Randy Guste, with his wife, Henrietta, on Napoleon Avenue Tuesday.Sarah Tan, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Several people ran for shelter - some to their cars - as a heavy rain started to fall as Lyra passed, a reminder of how abruptly Fat Tuesday could become Wet Tuesday.

“We just need to get the parades through,” New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu told WVUE-TV’s John Snell after his Zulu toast. “If we can get through the Rex parade, maybe we can get the trucks parade through, too."